863 



5539. The cranium of an Aboriginal of the island of Ceylon, of the race called Vedah 



or Veddah, from Bintenne. 





 The cranial cavity is of small size, with the forehead narrow and receding : the glabella is 



moderately prominent through the development of the frontal sinuses. The sutures are well 

 marked ; that of the lambdoid is particularly complex, and sinks below the level of the con- 

 tiguous bones at its lower angles. The supramastoid ridge is well marked : the mastoids are 

 moderately developed : the paroccipitals are rudimentary. The zygomatic processes of the 

 temporals are very slender ; those of the malars have the lower border convex, descending 

 below them. The styliform processes of the alisphenoid are low, or short, subquadrate, but 

 unusually extended backwards and outwards, overlapping the inner angle of the vaginal pro- 

 cesses. A trace of the maxillo-premaxillary suture remains on the palate : the maxilla is slightly 

 prognathic : the molar teeth are small. This cranium has probably belonged to a female : 

 it agrees in the chief characters with the skull from the Philippines (No. 5531). 



Presented by Colonel Hamilton Smith, F.R.S. 



5540. The skull of a male Affghan. 



The cranium resembles that of the Patagonians and modern Peruvians, being broad at the 

 parietal protuberances, moderately convex above, high, broad, with a tendency to flattening 

 behind. The forehead is narrow and rather sloping : the glabella is slightly prominent : the 

 nasals come off almost in a line with it, and are very little produced. The malar bones are 

 large, but not very prominent : the upper jaw is produced, and the chin is well developed. 



As individual peculiarities may be noticed the division of the occipital condyles into two 



unequal facets. 



Purchased. 



5541. The skull of a male Hindoo, of the Coolie cast. 



* 



The cranium is narrower than in the preceding, particularly at the occipital region, which 

 is high. The forehead is narrow and sloping : the glabella is prominent, and so are the 

 nasals : the malars are moderately prominent : the upper jaw is much produced ; the lower 

 jaw has a square chin. The paroccipital tubercles are prominent. There are two canine 

 teeth on the right side of the upper jaw. The rest of the permanent series is normal and 

 complete. 



Presented by Dr. G. M. Paterson. 



5542. The skull of a low-cast Hindoo, who was a Thug. 



It resembles in shape the preceding skull. The malar bones, though prominent, are 

 smaller : the jaws are more produced and the chin is less marked. The walls of the cranium 

 had been reduced to a thin and brittle plate, with the diploe almost obliterated. This skull 

 shows a very extensive comminuted fracture, involving the malar, temporal, parietal, and occi- 

 pital bones, and extending through the base of the cranium to the opposite side. 



It is from an individual of that association of natives of Hindostan, notorious for their 

 systematic mode of murder and plunder. The man to whom it belonged had been captured, 

 and was knocked down by one of his fellow-prisoners with a brass drinking vessel : the light 



